Fang Zhengzhi knew what Chi Guyan was thinking. From her point of view, it was not because she did not trust Fang Zhengzhi. It's just that, Fang Zhengzhi just recently entered the Holy Region, and under such circumstances, even ensuring his own safety was a problem, much less stealing treasures and resources in those 'forbidden lands'. Judging by how dangerous the Holy Region was, any wrong step might possibly result in him being slaughtered immediately.
However, Fang Zhengzhi had his limits too. He didn't believe that he was some morally righteous saint, nor a gentleman unfazed by the fear of death, but he simply could not live under a woman's care.
Of course … mulling over this was not helpful whatsoever.
Once he loses the bet, he could only swallow his pride and endure the humiliation to become Chi Guyan's slave for a month, no matter how much he did not want to.
"No, I must find a way out!" Fang Zhengzhi's mind quickly scanned the 'painful' circumstances he was stuck in and all the possible resources he had.
Chi Guyan has already unlocked the first of the Nine Heavens Sagely Illustrations, and she only took around 15 minutes. That was just ridiculously fast!
Even in a fair contest, Fang Zhengzhi wouldn't be totally confident of securing a victory against such an opponent. And what's worse, their starting lines now were miles apart.
And where was he now? Deep in the Jungle of Mysteries, surrounded by prowling beasts, without anything with him - not even a map, or an introductory note to the Jungle of Mysteries, except a pesky Yan Qing in tow.
"This is too unfair!" Despite having maintained a positive attitude all this while, even his hands were tied in the face of such an insurmountable challenge. What could he do?
"Are we not going?" Yan Qing asked after noticing Fang Zhengzhi's despondent expression, then scanning the thick fog around them.
"Do you know where to go?" Fang Zhengzhi piped back.
"No idea." Yan Qing shook his head.
"I remember, didn't you grow up in a jungle?"
"Yes, but this isn't the jungle that I grew up in."
"...." Fang Zhengzhi didn't probe further, and just gazed around at his surroundings - the thick fog, the trees, the light drizzle, and the grass. There wasn't anything else in sight.
This made Fang Zhengzhi furrow his eyebrows. To put it bluntly, he was no different from a headless fly now. Forget about navigating out of the Jungle of Mysteries, he didn't know where was North, South, East or West.
Hold on! North, South, East, and West?
Come to think about it, the Divine Rain Pond's water has five distinct colors which should be linked to five different areas. Red brings you to the Nine Heavens; blue brings you to the Jungle of Mysteries …
The five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, earth. Red represents … fire?
Then blue would be water?
But he was now in a place called the Jungle of Mysteries. If it's a jungle, then 'wood' would be a better fit, right? No, no … the Jungle of Mysteries … the Mysterious … Mysterious Fog! Fog is water!
The Jungle of Mysteries represents water! He's now in the region of water!
And Chi Guyan was in the Nine Heavens, so the heavens … is the fire region.
According to the arrangement of the five elements, fire would be above, which coincides perfectly with the symbolism of the Nine Heavens. Wood and earth are on the left and right respectively, while water and metal would be below.
North, South, East and West.
He should be in the Southwest position now, and since fire is up North, then he should be moving in the Northeast direction!
"Sh*t, I'm so smart!" Fang Zhengzhi's eyes lit up instantly and complemented himself instinctively. And then … he heard a voice ring in his ears again.
"Chi Guyan has entered the Third Heaven!"
"Chi Guyan has entered …"
"...."
Fang Zhengzhi felt as if he was struck by a jolt of lightning. He wanted to exclaim: you can be quick, but can you not be this quick?
….
In the Nine Heavens of the Divine Rain Pond, over thirty Heaven Dao disciples glanced at each other, all noticing the admiration and helplessness in each other's eyes. All of them clearly observed the first of the Nine Heavens Sagely Illustrations at the same time, but Chi Guyan has already unlocked two illustrations and has propelled straight to the Third Heaven, while they were all still staring at the first illustration hanging high above the horizon with frowns on their faces.
"What's the meaning of this illustration?" They yanked their hair as they mulled over this puzzle while bathing in the dew rain.
Meanwhile … outside the Divine Rain Pond in the Heaven Dao Pavilion, the spectating disciples opened their eyes wide in awe, clearly astonished by the ringing voice in their ears.
"Senior Chi Guyan has actually entered the Third Heaven!"
"That's so quick!"
"She truly is our Senior Chi Guyan!"
The disciples were astounded and ecstatic. After all, Chi Guyan's tremendous talent was widely recognized in the Heaven Dao Pavilion. Sixth Elder's face was also all smiles.
"Sixth Elder, Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Qing seemed to have found their bearings in the Jungle of Mysteries, and are now proceeding in the direction of the Nine Heavens!" A disciple tasked with observing the happenings in the Divine Rain Pond walked up to Sixth Elder and softly reported this to him.
"Oh? Already?" Upon hearing this, Sixth Elder was clearly stunned, but he quickly comforted himself. "I truly did underestimate that brat, but even if he has found his bearings, bashing through the Jungle of Mysteries into the Nine Heavens would take at least two hours!"
"Yes. Even though the beasts in the Jungle of Mysteries aren't that strong, their numbers aren't small!" The disciple nodded in agreement.
"Alright, you may take your leave." Sixth Elder gestured to him.
"Yes!" The disciple excused himself immediately.
Gazing at the disciple leaving in the distance, Sixth Elder's smile grew even brighter. "Based on Guyan's speed, she should have reached the Fifth, or even Sixth Heaven by the time Fang Zhengzhi enters the Nine Heavens. There wouldn't be any hope for him no matter how devillish his talents are!"
….
Although Fang Zhengzhi did not grow up in a jungle like Yan Qing did, he still had an excellent sense of direction, having hunted in the Cang Ling Mountain in his youth. The surrounding thick layer of fog was nonetheless not a problem for him.
However, he was still perturbed by the sporadic beastly roars rumbling around him. There was simply a tad too many beasts in this jungle.
"Can you speak their language?" The usually silent Yan Qing following quietly behind him suddenly blurted this out just as Fang Zhengzhi was sprinting maniacally through the foliage.
"Speak with the beasts? Nope." Fang Zhengzhi shook his head.
"Then how could you avoid the beasts' territory?" Yan Qing continued asking.
"I can't speak with beasts, but I've hunted in the mountains ever since I was little, so I know how to differentiate the various sounds that beasts make." Fang Zhengzhi replied.
"I see." Yan Qing halted his questions, but his eyes grew visibly brighter as he gazed at Fang Zhengzhi's back.
….
"Guo Tiannu has entered the Second Heaven!"
"...."
"Li Wuji has entered the Second Heaven!"
"Tang …."
"...."
Just as Fang Zhengzhi was advancing tirelessly towards the Nine Heavens, the voices ringing in his ears grew more persistent. From time to time, there would be announcements of Heaven Dao disciples successfully deciphering the first illustration.
"That's the thirteenth one already." Fang Zhengzhi counted silently.
Of course, these disciples couldn't possibly be that weak in their strength or talent, having already made it into the Heaven Dao Pavilion. They clearly wouldn't be defeated right at the first puzzle.
"Xing Li'an has entered the Second Heaven!"
"...."
"Na Shanding has entered the Second Heaven!"
"...."
"That's the 27th one already!" Fang Zhengzhi recalled that there were roughly 32 Heaven Dao disciples who were prepared to enter the Divine Rain Pond.
With 27 of them already in the Second Heaven … that's indeed a very impressive number.
Although it would get harder towards the end, he could still foresee that these thirty over Heaven Dao disciples would not end their journey at the Second Heaven.
Just as he was pondering over this, another voice rang in his ears.
"Chi Guyan has entered the Fourth Heaven!"
"Chi Guyan has entered …"
"...."
"She's already reached the Fourth Heaven?! What was that about the challenge becoming harder towards the end? Why is that chick Chi Guyan advancing upwards so smoothly, as though she has unlocked a cheat in the game?"
Fang Zhengzhi was already feeling hopeless. Chi Guyan's talent was already slightly ridiculous to begin with, and now she has unlocked a cheating plug-in. It's driving him insane.
"No, I must gain speed!" Fang Zhengzhi shot a glance back at Yan Qing, "The Nine Heavens is in the Northeast direction. Shall we compete to see who can reach there faster?"
"Eh?" Yan Qing was slightly stunned, clearly surprised at the suggestion, but the look in his eyes became extremely sharp very quickly. "Alright, if I lose, I'll be your slave for month just like Chi Guyan. But if you lose, you'll have to promise me one condition!"
"Eh? Isn't this just a casual contest?" Fang Zhengzhi did not expect Yan Qing to suggest a bet like this.
"Don't worry, Senior Fang. I'll never go back on my words!"
"What's your condition?"
"I'll tell you when I win you, Senior Fang. But if my condition is too troublesome or unachievable for you, I'll take it back without any complaints!" Yan Qing continued.
"Alright, let's start!" Fang Zhengzhi didn't say anything else. After all, he wouldn't think too much about agreeing to such an inconsequential bet.
"Boom!"
In the instant that Fang Zhengzhi's voice trailed off, a thunderous blast sounded. It was clearly the sound of a foot cracking the ground beneath it. In the next moment, a dark green shadow charged forward, vanishing immediately into the thick fog like an arrow that just left the bow.